AFCON 2023: Coach Sebastian Desabre Discloses Gael Kakuta’s Availability for Ivory Coast Game

• Sebastian Desabre has given an update on Gael Kakuta's availability for DR Congo's tie against Ivory Coast
• The Leopards will face the host nation in the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday
• Kakuta is yet to feature in any of DR Congo's knock-out matches, with his last game being in the group stage

DR Congo coach, Sebastian Desabre, has discussed the availability of Gael Kakuta in the Leopards' semi-final clash against Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Leopards knocked Guinea out of the competition in the quarter-final and need a win against the Elephants to seal a place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Former Chelsea forward Kakuta has been out of action since the group stage, and he's yet to feature in any of DR Congo's knock-out games.

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Ahead of their game against the Elephants, Sports Brief gathered Desabre's update on Kakuta's availability.

"I don't know what is being said on social media," he said.

"Unfortunately, there's a lot of fake news on social media. We have prepared all of our players.

"Unfortunately, Gael [Kakuta] has an insignificant injury, and he will be available for tomorrow's game if I include him in the team against Ivory Coast.

Desabre also delivered a strong warning to Emerse Fae's side ahead of their semi-final clash in Abidjan.

"What matters for us is to get to the finals. We need to go to the finals because it's going to be a huge disappointment if we don't make the finals, and that's the message we want to send across," he added.

Match preview: DR Congo vs Ivory Coast

Sports Brief previously did the match preview of the semi-final clash between Ivory Coast's Elephants and DR Congo's Leopards coming up at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Wednesday, February 7.

The Elephants and the Leopards both had a poor outing in the group phase but are having a good run in the knockout stages.